Athens Cultural Tips

Dos and Don'ts

Time Difference. Don’t fret if someone shows up late for a date. “To enjoy Athens, you must follow the pace of life. Stay up late. Forget lunch at noon and dinner at 6 p.m.—you’ll miss all the action.”—Diane Shugart, author, Athens by Neighborhood.

Address Code. Greeks use the formal plural pronoun (sas) when addressing older people or strangers.

Talk to the Hand. Avoid raising an outstretched palm to a person; this is an offensive gesture known as the moutza.

Eating Etiquette. Greeks are not sticklers for table manners. At home and especially at tavernas, everyone at the table shares foods, with diners dipping bread into dishes to soak up olive oil or sauce.

Siesta Time. Many Greeks still take a midday siesta, so don’t phone friends or play loud music between 2-5 p.m.

Personal Space. Greeks are very tactile. Greeks greet people they know with a kiss on both cheeks and frequently make physical contact.

Smoke Signals. A nonsmoker’s nightmare. Despite smoking bans in stores, restaurants, public buildings, and banks, smokers puff away at will and bristle if asked to stop.